Mail-pouch crane and hanger.



-m. 7|2,a97. Patented Nov. 4, I902. L. w. BARKER.

MAIL POUCH CRANE AND HANGER.

(Application filed June 20, 1.902.) (No Model.)

Eye 0" 3 jmyew/hzr JewzmUa7%6/f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS W. BARKER, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

MAIL-POUCH CRANE AND HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,897, dated.November 4, 1902.

Application filed June 20, 1902. Serial No. 112,522. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I Be it knownthat I, LEWIS VVQBARKER, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Clinton, in thecounty of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mail -Pouch Cranes and Hangers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmail-pouch cranes and hangers, and relates more particularly to thatclass or description of .mail cranes and hangers known as collapsiblecranes.

The invention aims to provide a mail-pouch crane and hanger which shallbe extremely simple in its construction, strong, durable,

' efficient in its operation, comparatively inexpensive to set up, andfoldable or collapsible automatically in a compact manner, so that thesuspending-arms for the pouch when the latter is released will fall outof the way of the moving train.

The invention further aims to provide the suspending-arms for the pouchwith new and novel means for the sure and easy release of the pouch whenengaged by the pouch-catcher carried by the trainQthereby overcoming thegreat resistance due to the pull necessary in disengaging the pouch fromthe arms.

With the above and other advantages in view the invention consists ofthe novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morespecifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in 'detailreferonce is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which f Q Figure l is an elevation of the craneand hanger, showing the same in the position for suspending the pouch,the pouch being attached thereto. Fig.2 is a like view showing the craneand hanger collapsed when the pouch is released therefrom, Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the coupling or connecting device'for the uppersuspending-arm for the pouch, the arm being broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the connectthe pouch.

' Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 denotes the base,which is constructed of a pair of cross-ties connected together by meansof the plate 2, secured to the ties by a suitable fastening means, as at3. Instead of forming the base of a pair of crossties it may beconstructed of a single plate, if desired. The cross-ties 1 are adaptedto be secured rigidly in position by any suitable means. Thereference-numeral 4: denotes a vertically-extending supporting-standardconstructed of any suitable form and material and secured at its lowerend to the plate2 in anydesirable manner. Thesupporting-standard t isfurther provided a suitable distance from its lower end with a collar orband 5, to which is connected the upper end of a series of stay-rods 6.Each of the latter is formed in two sections connected together by theturnbuckle 7 for increasing the tension thereof and secured at theirlower end to the crossties 1, as at 8.

Mounted upon and secured to the upper end of the standard 4 is anL-shaped connecting-piece or coupling 9, having its free end flattened,as at 10. The flattened end 10 of the coupling 9 is formed with anelongated rectangular opening ll and a vertically-extending opening 12.The latter is arranged adjacent to the inner end of the opening 11 andnear the inner end of the flattened portion 10 ofthe coupling 9.Extending within the opening 11, as well as being pivoted therein bymeans of the pin 13, the latter arranged a suitable distance from theinner end of the opening 11, is the flattened inner end 14 of the uppersuspending-arm 15. The arm 15 carries on its free or outer end acoil-spring 16, having its free end extending upwardly, as at 16, uponwhich the ring or strap 16 of the pouch 17 is supported when thepouch isadapted to be suspended from'the hanger.

Rigidly secured to the standard in any desirable manner and at asuitable distance below the coupling 9' is a collar or band 18, whichhas connected thereto or formed integral therewith the connecting-piece19, of inverted-U-shaped formation,so thatthe piece will have an openbottom and closed top.- The piece 19 is provided near its inner end witha pair of downwardly-extending cars 20 and between the cars 20 and theouter end of the plate with a vertically-extending opening 21. Extendingthrough the ears 20 is a pin 22 for pivotally connecting the inner end23 of the lower suspending-arm 24 within the connecting-piece 19. Thefree or outer end of the arm 2i carries a coil-spring 25, having itsfree end extending downwardly, as at 25, on which the ring or strap 26of the pouch 17 is mounted when the pouch is adapted to be suspendedfrom the hanger.

Operating through the openings 12 and 21 is a vertically-extending rod27, provided with a stop-pin 27 to limit the movement of the said 10(2". To the latter is pivoted, as at 28, the lower end of thesupporting-rod 29, the latter adapted to extend at aninclination whenthe hangers are supporting the pouch, as shown in Fig. l, and ispivotally connected at its upper end, as at 30, to the uppersuspending-arm 15. The function of the stoppin 27 is to limit the upwardmovement of the rod 27 when the hanger is set by the operator to suspendthe pouch 17. hen the crane and hanger are in the position shown in Fig.1, the lower end of the rod 27 rests upon the inner end of thesuspending-arrn 24, supporting thereby the rod 29, and when the craneand hanger are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the rod 27 extendsthrough the piece 19. \Vhen the crane and hanger are in the position asshown in Fig. 1, the rod 29 supports the rod 15 in a horizontalposition, as well as forming the necessary connection and support tocause the suspension of the arm 24: in a horizontal position.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the pouch 17has been attached to the arms 15 and 21 in the manner as shown in Fig.1that is, the rings or straps of the pouch being mounted upon the endsof the springs carried by the arms 15 and 2- L when the pouch 17 isremoved by the catcher it will cause the arm 24 to automatically fallfrom the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 and at the same timerelease the rod 27, so that it will pass through the opening 21, drawingrod 29 therewith, as well as the arm 15, and cause the latter to assumethe vertical position shown in Fig. 2. When collapsed, the parts are ina very compact condition and will in no manner extend outwardly, so asto be engaged by the moving train.

It will be evident that by providing the ends of the arms 15 and 24 withthe coilsprings 16 and 25 for connecting the pouch to the arms that whenthe pouch is engaged by the catcher the springs will not only swingdown, but at the same time sidewise, so as to allow the pouch to slipofi easily from the ends of the springs, and consequently no resistanceto the release of the pouch is met with, and while the pouch is heldfirmly in its proper position there is no definite resist- 'or thebreaking ofi of the straps or rings of the pouch, for the reason thatthe pouch will be readily and easily released from the springs whenengaged by the catcher.

It is thought the many advantages of my improved mail crane and hangercan be readily understood from the foregoing description, and it willalso be evident that I have devised a simple, novel, and inexpensivemail crane and hanger, and while the structural embodiment of theinvention as herein disclosed is what Iat the present time consider thepreferable one it is evident that minor changes, variations, andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore donot wish to restrict myself to the details of construction hereinbeforedescribed and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve theright to make such minor changes, variations, and modifications whichcome properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as Few, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard, a pair of suspending-armspivoted therewith, a coil-spring connected to the free end of each ofsaid arms, a vertically-movable rod, and a rod connected to the saidvertically-movable rod and to one of said suspending-arms.

2. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard, a pair of suspending-arms, acoil-spring connected to one end of each of said arms, means forpivotally connecting the other end of the said arms with said standard,avertically-movable rod operating through said connecting means,and a rodpivoted to the said vertically-movable rod and to one of the saidsuspending-arms.

3. In a mail crane orhanger, a base, a standard, means for connectingthe standard to the base, an upper suspending-arm, a spring connected toone end thereof, a lower suspending-arm, a spring connected to one endthereof, means for pivotally connecting the upper arm to the top of saidstandard, said connecting means provided with an opening, a lowersuspending-arm, a spring connected to one end thereof, means forpivotally connecting said lower suspending-arm with the said standard,said connecting means provided with an opening, a vertically-movable rodoperating through the said openings, and a rod pivotally connected tothe vertically-movable rod and to the upper suspending-arm.

4. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard, a pair of suspending-armspivotally connected therewith, a coil-spring connected to the free endof each of said arms, and means for supporting said arms in a horizontalmanner.

said arms for supporting the arms in a horizontal position.

6. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard,

an upper suspending arm, a spring connected to one end thereof, acoupling mounted upon the top of said standard and provided with avertically-extending opening and an elongated opening adapted to receiveone end of said arm, means for pivotally connecting the said arm and thesaid elongated opening, a connecting-piece secu red to said standard andprovided with a vertically-extending opening, a lower suspending-armadapted to extend in the said connecting-piece, means for pivotallyconnecting the said lower arm to said connecting-piece, a springconnected to the free end otsaid lower suspending-arm, avertically-extending rod movable through the said openings ofthecoupling and connectingpiece, and a rod pivoted to thevertically-extending rod and to the upper suspendingarm, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

7. In amail crane and hanger, a standard, an upper suspending-arm, alower suspending-arm, a coil-spring connected to each of the said armsand adapted to engage a mailpouch, means for pivotally connecting theupper arm with said standard, means for pivotally connecting the lowerarm with said standard, each of said connecting means provided with anopening, and means extending through said openings and connected withthe upper arm for supporting the said arms in a horizontal position whenthe said springs engage the mail-pouch. Y

8. In a mail crane and hanger, a pair of arms, a standard, means forpivotally connecting the arms with the standard, a vertically-movablerod extending through the said connecting means, and a rod connected tothe said vertically-movable rod and to one of said arms.

9. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard, anupper suspending-arm, meansfor pivotally connecting said arm with the said standard, said meansprovidedwith an opening, a lower suspending-arm, means for pivotallyconnecting the said lower arm to the said standard, said means providedwith an opening,and means extending through the opening and pivotallyconnected with the said upper arm for supporting the same in ahorizontal position when the said arms suspend a mailpouch.

10. In a mail crane and hanger, a standard, an upper suspending-arm,means for pivotally connecting the said arm with the said standard, saidmeans provided with an open ing, a lower suspending-arm, means forpivotally connecting the said lower arm to the said standard, said meansprovided with an opening, a vertically-movable rod extending through thesaid opening, a stop carried by said rod, and a rod pivotally connectedto the said vertically-movable rod and to the upper suspending-arm,substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a mail crane and hanger, astandard, an upper suspending-arm,means for pivotally connecting the said arm with the said standard, saidmeans provided with an opening, a lower suspending-arm, means forpivotally connecting the said lower arm to the said standard, said meansprovided withan opening, a vertically-movable rod extending through thesaid openings, a stop carried by said rod, a rod pivotally connected tothe said vertically-movable rod and to the upper suspending-arm, acoil-spring connected to the free end of the upper arm, and a coilspringconnected to the free end of the lower arm, substantially as hereinshown and described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

LENVIS W. BARKER.

' WVitnesses:

A. P. BARKER, FRANK W. ELLIS.

